Powered toy

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a toy vehicle, which can be propelled along a surface via one or more wheels provided as part of the toy. The toy includes first and second parts, and a propulsion force generating means mounted within at least one of the parts. Relative movement, such as by rotation of the first and second parts causes storage of energy within the propulsion means. This propulsion force can be selectively released when the first and second parts are in a selected engaged position so as to move the toy across the surface.

The invention to which this application relates is a toy which can be provided with a propulsion force, to move the toy in at least one direction, with the propulsion force initially generated by relative movement between at least first and second parts of the toy.

The provision of toys which can be moved under a propulsion force, such as for example a toy vehicle, is well known. One known form of generating the propulsion force is to provide a power source within the toy which, when the power source is switched on, provides a power supply to a motor in the toy which is connected to at least one part such as a wheel of the toy, to move the same. However, these toys tend to be relatively expensive and obviously require the provision of the power source.

Another form which is known is to provide a toy vehicle with a motor mounted therein, and the propulsion force can be generated by movement of the toy in the reverse direction to that in which the vehicle will ultimately move under the propulsion force applied thereto. The movement in the reverse direction causes a spring in the motor to be wound up and the toy can then be held by the person until they wish the toy to move in the opposite direction. At that time, the person releases the vehicle and the unwinding of the spring in the motor drives at least one of the wheels of the toy to move the same forward. This form of toy is well known but the same is relatively limited in terms of ongoing enjoyment which can be gained as the toy vehicle appearance cannot be adapted.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a toy in which a propulsion force can be provided and to provide the toy in a manner which allows the same to be adaptable and allows greater interaction with the toy by the person playing with the same.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a toy vehicle said toy having a body formed from at least two parts, and a propulsion force generating means which, when charged exerts a movement force on the toy vehicle and wherein the propulsion force generating means is charged by relative movement between the said first and second parts following which the toy vehicle can be placed on a surface along which the same is propelled when released.

Typically, the relative movement is rotational and preferably is rotational about an axis formed along and/or parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body of the toy.

In one embodiment, the said first and second parts are separable. In one embodiment the parts are movable to a first position in which relative rotation between the parts is possible, and a second position in which the first and second parts are mechanically located to form the toy body for play and in which position the propulsion force can be applied.

In one embodiment the propulsion force is applied to cause movement of the toy vehicle across the surface, typically by connecting the propulsion force generating means to at least one wheel of the toy which contacts with the surface.

In one embodiment, the propulsion force generating means is a motor including a coil spring, said coil spring being wound up by the relative movement of the first and second parts and, when released, the unwinding of the spring generates the propulsion force.

In one embodiment, the toy includes a plurality of wheels for contact with a surface to aid the movement of the toy along said surface under the influence of the propulsion force, said motor being connected to at least one of the wheels to provide the propulsion force thereon.

In one embodiment, the first and second parts are provided with matching engagement means to allow the location of the first and second parts together.

In one embodiment, at least a part of the engagement means is rotatable so as to wind the spring of the motor via a gear system. In one embodiment, the engagement means comprises a male spigot in one of the first or second parts of the toy and a female port in the other of the first or second parts of the toy and the spigot is rotatable with respect to the force generating means with a transmission of rotation to charge the same achieved via a gear system.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of toy parts, said kit comprising one or more pieces of a first part of the toy and one or more pieces of a second part of the toy, engagement means provided to allow selected first and second parts to be connected together to form a toy vehicle and wherein the parts are provided with engagement means, which are common for the pieces of the first part type and for the pieces of the second part respectively so as to allow the engagement of selected first and second parts from the kit and when engaged, relative movement of the first and second parts causes the charging of the propulsion force generating means provided in the toy vehicle.

Typically the external appearance of the pieces of the kit differ from piece to piece but by the provision of common engagement means, so any of the pieces of the first and second part types can be selected to be joined together and the generation of the propulsion force can still be achieved as, regardless of the external appearance of the particular selected pieces of the first and second parts, the relative rotation of the selected first and second parts which result in the winding of the spring in the propulsion force generating means to change the same. Thus the function of the toy will be constant, even though the external appearance of the toy which is formed can be altered by selecting different first and second parts pieces to join together.

In one embodiment, the motor is linked to at least one of the rear wheels of the vehicle to provide the propulsion force thereon.

In whichever embodiment the engagement means can include an assembly which ensures that when relative rotation between the parts in one direction occurs charging of the propulsion force generating means can occur. Also, the propulsion force generating means can include a limiter to prevent over rotation from causing damage.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming and propelling a toy model vehicle across a surface, said method comprising the step of forming the toy by engaging first and second parts at an interface via engagement means, at least one of said parts including at least one wheel connected to be driven by a propulsion force generating means located in said part, engaging said first and second parts in a first position, and moving said parts rotatably about a longitudinal axis of a spigot depending from one part into a port in the other part, said spigot engaged to allow the rotational movement between the parts to be transmitted to the propulsion force generating means to charge the same, moving the first and second parts to a second position in which the same cannot be relatively rotated and selectively releasing the at least one wheel to be driven, to allow the propulsion force from the propulsion force generating means to rotate the at least one wheel and hence drive the toy vehicle across said surface.

Typically the method can be repeated for each occasion upon which the toy vehicle is to be propelled across a surface.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:—

FIG. 1 a illustrates two embodiments of a toy vehicle in accordance with the invention ready for use;

FIG. 1 b illustrates two embodiments which differ from FIG. 1 a but using the same parts;

FIGS. 2 a to e illustrate the manner in which the first and second parts of the toy, in one embodiment, can be brought together and moved in order to generate a propulsion force;

FIGS. 3 a and b illustrate plan views in a schematic manner, of the underside of a toy vehicle in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4 a-c illustrate the respective positions at various stages of the first and second parts of a toy vehicle in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5 a and b illustrate views of the interface surfaces between the first and second parts of FIGS. 4 a-c; and

FIGS. 6 a and b illustrate underside views showing the propulsion force generating means and engagement means of the toy of FIGS. 4 a to c.

Referring firstly to FIG. 1, there are illustrated two toy vehicles 2, 2′ in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Each of said toy vehicles has first and second parts 4, 6, and 4′, 6′ respectively forming the front and back of the toy vehicle. In this embodiment, each of the parts includes a set of wheels 8 and has an outer appearance depicting a particular style of the front or back of the toy vehicle. Also illustrated with regard to FIG. 1 a and 1 b is the fact that the first and second parts 2, 2′; 4, 4′ can be interchanged so that for example, in FIG. 1 a the first toy vehicle 2 has with a first visual appearance formed by the parts 4 and 6 and the second vehicle 2′ has a second visual appearance formed by the parts 4′, 6′. However, referring now to FIG. 1 b the person playing with the toys in this particular example, has interchanged and connected first and second parts such that the toy vehicle 2 is formed by the first and second parts 4′, 6, and the toy vehicle 2′ is formed by the first and second parts 4, 6′ so as to provide two toy vehicles which have an unusual appearance but which will still operate in accordance with the invention, whichever combination of the pieces of the first type 4 with the second type 6 are used.

FIGS. 2 a to e illustrate the utilisation of the toy vehicle formed from first and second parts 4′, 6′, with a propulsion force. In FIG. 2 a, the two parts 4′ and 6′ are shown separated and engagement means are partially shown. The engagement means include a spigot 10 which is provided to be moved into a slot (not shown) in the part 4′ in the direction of arrow 12. The movement of the parts 4′ and 6′ together move the same to a position shown in FIG. 2 b. It is preferred that this engagement is a first engagement position which allows relative rotation of the parts 4′ and 6′ as shown in FIG. 2 c about longitudinal axis 11. This relative rotation causes spigot 10 to rotate with respect to the part 6 and also contact a propulsion force generating means located in the body in a manner which will be described subsequently. Thus, the relative rotation of parts 4′ and 6′, serves to wind the propulsion force generating means to create a propulsion force on the vehicle. Once this has been achieved, the parts 4′ and 6′ are then preferably further moved together to a second engagement position in which the parts form a unitary body of the toy vehicle as shown in FIG. 2 d.

In one embodiment, the propulsion force generating means is attached to provide a propulsion force on one or more wheels 8 and in order to ensure that the propulsion force is only released to act when desired, the rear wheels 8′ of the vehicle can be clamped onto the surface under the downward force of a hand 13 on the toy which hand is removed when the propulsion force is to be released. Alternatively, and as illustrated in FIG. 2 d, a catch mechanism 14 can be provided which, when in position, causes the propulsion force to be restrained and, when propulsion of the vehicle is required, the catch mechanism can be released by pressing down on the back of the vehicle as illustrated in FIG. 2 d to release the catch 14 and hence allow the vehicle to move under the influence of the propulsion force as illustrated in FIG. 2 e in the direction of arrow 16.

Also illustrated in FIGS. 2 a-c is how the propulsion force is generated by the rotation of the parts about 180 degrees as it will be appreciated that in FIGS. 2 a and b, the part 6′ is located in an upside down manner with regard to the part 4′ and by twisting part 6′ through 180 degrees, as illustrated in FIG. 2 c, the part 6′ can be brought to the correct orientation with regard to the part 4′ as illustrated in FIGS. 2 d and e as well as winding the force generating means.

FIGS. 3 a and b illustrate the underside of a toy in the form of a vehicle in accordance with the invention in a schematic manner. It will be seen that the parts 4, 6, have wheels 8 and there is provided on part 6 a spigot 10 as part of the engagement means which is received within a slot 20 which forms the other part of the engagement means.

In FIG. 3 a, the parts 4, 6 are shown partially engaged and in this position, the parts can be relatively rotated similar to that shown in FIG. 2 c about the rotational axis formed by the spigot and slot 22. The spigot 10 is located via a gear transmission system 24 to a propulsion force generating means 26 in the form of a motor which includes therein, a coil spring (not shown). The gear transmission system 24 transmits rotation of the spigot 10 to rotation of a shaft 28 which in turn causes the winding and tightening of the coil spring in the motor 26.

The propulsion force generating means in the form of the motor 26 is connected to at least one, but in this case, both wheels 8 of the part 6 via axle 30. Thus, the rotation of the spigot 10 causes the charging of the toy vehicle and storage of a propulsion force in the motor 26 by winding the spring. The catch mechanism 14 can be provided to then retain the spring in the charged or wound position and the two parts 4, 6 can be moved together into a second engaged position as indicated in FIG. 3 b via arrow 32 such that the parts 4 and 6 respectively form the unitary toy vehicle body. In that position, the toy then acts as a single item and the catch mechanism 14 can be released with the wheels 8 in contact with a surface. The release of the propulsion force causes driven rotation of the wheels via the axle 30 as the spring unwinds and thereby propels the toy across the surface.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 a to c, there is illustrated a further embodiment of the invention. In this case, the toy vehicle 2 is formed from first and second parts 4, 6, and the propulsion generating means is provided in the part 6 and connected to the wheels 8 of that part so as to drive the same when the propulsion force is released and the propulsion force generating means is charged. The Figures show, in more detail, the engagements means which comprise a spigot 10 in part 6 and a port 34 provided in part 4 as shown in FIG. 5 b.

The spigot includes a series of protrusions 36 spaced 180 degrees apart and the spigot extends out of a retainer 38 which is provided in a fixed position and which includes a series of annular protrusions and indents 19 which allow the guided rotation of the first and second parts 4 and 6 in a first position shown in FIG. 4 b, with protrusions 17 on the port 34 locating with an annular indent 19, and also helps to secure the parts in a second position shown in FIG. 4 c by the protrusions 17 locating in the other of the indents 19.

FIG. 4 a shows the first and second parts 4, 6, spaced apart and therefore allows particular pieces of the first and second parts to be independently selected. Once selected the parts 4,6 are brought together as indicated by arrow 32 to a first position as shown in FIG. 4 b. In this position, the spigot is inserted into the port 34 to a sufficient length that relative rotation of parts 4, 6, about the longitudinal axis 11, causes rotation of the spigot 10 and hence charging of the propulsion force generating means connected thereto.

It will also be seen how location pegs 40 are provided, in this case, on part 4 and, as is shown in FIG. 5 a, matching location ports 42 are provided on the part 6. Thus, when the first and second parts 4, 6 are further moved together to the second position shown in FIG. 4 c, the location pegs 40 are inserted into respective location ports 42 and serve to lock the first and second parts 4, 6 in a fixed position with respect to each other such that no relative rotation is possible. In this position, the wheels of the part 6, can be released wither by removing a downward force on the wheels against the surface 44 or by releasing a catch, and the wheels 8 are then driven by the release of the propulsion force to rotate and hence move the vehicle 2 along the surface 44 in direction 46.

FIGS. 5 a and b illustrate end views of the faces of parts 4, 6 which form the interface 48 of the first and second parts 4, 6 and show the location means 40, 42 respectively and the port 34 and spigot 10 of the engagement means. Also shown, in the port 34, is a first part 48 into which the distal end 50 of the spigot 10 locates so as to provide location of the spigot in the port, and, between that part 48 and the face 50 of the part 4, there is provided a catch 52 which is formed of a size to locate with one or other of the protrusions 36 on the spigot 10. This therefore means that when the parts 4 and 6 are relatively rotated, the protrusion 36 locates on catch 52 such that the rotation causes the resilient means in the propulsion force generating means which is connected to be wound by the spigot, is charged, such that for example if the resilient means is a coil spring, the same is coiled increasingly tightly, and hence allows the propulsion force generating means to be charged.

When the parts 4 and 6 are pushed together into the respective second position shown in FIG. 4 c, the location means 40, 42 engage and then maintain the first and second parts 4, 6 in a located position and therefore prevent reverse rotation from occurring and the wheels 8 of the part 6, can be pressed onto the surface 44 to prevent the propulsion force generating means being discharged inadvertently.

FIGS. 6 a and b illustrate a plan view of the underside of the parts 4, 6 with covering plates removed and show the propulsion force generating means 26, in one form, in which there is provided a series of gears 24, shown for illustrative purposes, which show how rotation of the spigot 10 rotates the gear wheel 54 which in turn causes rotation of gear wheels 56 as part of the gear transmission system 24 within the propulsion force generating means 26. The resilient means (not shown) within the propulsion force generating means is connected via a shaft 58 to the wheels 8 so as to cause, when released from a charged position, rotation of the wheels 8 and hence drive of the toy vehicle 2 in the direction 46 as shown in FIG. 4 c.

FIG. 6 b illustrates the components 60, 62 which form the port 34 into which the spigot locates. Component 60 includes a catch 52 to locate with protrusions 36 and protrusions 17 to locate with annular indents 19 on the retainer 38 of part 6 and the component 62 includes an aperture 48 into which the free end 50 of the spigot 10 locates. Component 62 can be sprung loaded so as to allow the same to be resilient and have a greater tolerance in terms of the ability for the spigot free end to be located therein.

It should be appreciated that a series of pieces of the first and second parts type can be provided as a kit, with a set of pieces of first parts 4 and a set of pieces of second parts 6, each of which has a different external appearance and selected first and second parts can be selectively interchanged by the child and connected. As the engagement means and the propulsion force generating means will typically be common throughout the first parts and throughout the second parts respectively so the same means of generating the propulsion force can be achieved.

Although the invention is described with reference to a toy vehicle, it should be appreciated that the invention can be incorporated in any form of toy regardless of the external appearance of the same. Thus, for example, the propulsion force which is generated, may not in fact be used to move the toy across a surface but instead may be used to cause movement of a part of the toy, with regard to the remainder of the toy. 

1. A toy, said toy having a body formed from at least two parts, and a propulsion force generating means which, when charged exerts a movement force on the toy and wherein the propulsion force generating means is charged by relative movement between the said first and second parts, following which the toy can be placed on a surface along which the same is propelled when released.
 2. A toy according to claim 1 wherein the relative movement between the first and second parts is rotational.
 3. A toy according to claim 2 wherein the rotational movement is about an axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body of the toy.
 4. A toy according to claim 1 wherein the first and second parts are separable.
 5. A toy according to claim 1 wherein the parts are movable to a first position in which relative rotation between the parts is possible, and a second position in which the first and second parts are mechanically located to form the toy body for play and in which position the toy is placed on said surface.
 6. A toy according to claim 1 wherein the propulsion force is applied to the part of the toy in which the propulsion force generating means is located.
 7. A toy according to claim 1 wherein the propulsion force is applied to at least one wheel provided as part of the toy so as to move the toy across the surface.
 8. A toy according to claim 1 wherein the toy includes propulsion force generating means including a coil spring, said coil spring wound by relative movement of the first and second parts and, when released, the unwinding of the spring generates the propulsion force.
 9. A toy according to claim 1 wherein the toy includes a plurality of wheels for contact with the surface to aid the movement of the toy along said surface under the influence of the propulsion force.
 10. A toy according to claim 1 wherein the first and second parts are provided with matching engagement means to locate the first and second parts together.
 11. A toy according to claim 10 wherein at least a part of the engagement means are rotatable so as to wind a spring of the propulsion force generating means via a gear system.
 12. A toy according to claim 11 wherein the relative rotation is transferred to the spring via a gear system.
 13. A toy according to claim 11 wherein the engagement means include a male spigot in one of the first or second parts of the toy and a female port in the other of the first or second parts for the reception of the spigot.
 14. A toy according to claim 10 wherein the first and second parts can be moved between a first engaged position in which the propulsion force generating means can be charged and a second engaged position in which the propulsion force generating means cannot be charged.
 15. A toy according to claim 10 wherein the engagement means include an assembly which ensures that when relative rotation between the parts in one direction occurs, charging of the propulsion force generating means can occur.
 16. A toy according to claim 1 wherein the propulsion force generating means includes a limiter to prevent over rotation from causing damage.
 17. A toy according to claim 1 wherein the toy is a scale toy vehicle.
 18. A toy according to claim 1 wherein the toy can be hand held.
 19. A toy according to claim 1 wherein location means are provided at the interface between the first and second parts which, when engaged prevent relative rotation of said parts.
 20. A kit of toy parts, said kit comprising one or more pieces of a first part of the toy and one or more pieces of a second part of the toy, engagement means provided to allow selected first and second parts to be connected together to form a toy vehicle and wherein the parts are provided with engagement means which are common for the pieces of the first part type and for the pieces of the second part respectively so as to allow the engagement of selected first and second parts from the kit and, when engaged relative movement of the first and second parts causes the charging of propulsion force generating means provided in the toy vehicle.
 21. A kit according to claim 20 wherein the charging of the propulsion force generating means occurs regardless of which of the specific pieces of each of the parts is selected.
 22. A kit according to claim 21 wherein the selected first and second parts are relatively rotatable to charge the propulsion force generating means within one of the first or second parts of the toy.
 23. A method of forming and propelling a toy model vehicle across a surface, said method comprising the step of forming the toy by engaging first and second parts at an interface via engagement means, at least one of said parts including at least one wheel connected to be driven by a propulsion force generating means located in said part, engaging said first and second parts in a first position, and moving said parts rotatably about a longitudinal axis of a spigot depending from one part into a port in the other part, said spigot engaged to allow the rotational movement between the parts to be transmitted to the propulsion force generating means to charge the same, moving the first and second parts to a second position in which the same cannot be relatively rotated and selectively releasing the at least one wheel to be driven, to allow the propulsion force from the propulsion force generating means to rotate the at least one wheel and hence drive the toy vehicle across said surface.
 24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the method can be repeated for each occasion upon which the toy vehicle is to be propelled across a surface. 